The Joneses [DVD]

The title of my review should instantly tell you that this is NOT a comedy. If you watch it thinking it is a comedy, you will be sorely disappointed, as some of the other reviewers were.

This is really more like a modern-day parable about family, money, possessions and friends.

About 5 minutes into the film, I said to my wife 'We know that they aren't real, what's the story?', thinking I was going to be bored out of my wits for the next hour and a bit. Thankfully I didn't give up so quickly and actually found it a very intriguing film.

It does not drag at all but moves at a decent pace for a film that fits squarely in the philosophical drama category.

The characters are all played well and I found myself being empathetic towards them by the end of the film. They are, as you would imagine from people living a fake life, quite one dimensional. Even 'behind closed doors' Demi and David's characters do not change very much, but you can see them reaching out for reality.

I really liked this film. It is a great parable and with the right group of friends it could stir some interesting discussions.

If you like films that make you stop and think even for a short while, then this will do that. If you are looking for a comedy, then 'Did you hear about the Morgans?' Did You Hear About The Morgans? [DVD] [2009]might be a better choice.

hope that helps

I first watched this film because it was avaliable as a cheap rental download, but having seen it once I went on to buy the DVD to share with friends and family. I don't want to give away too much about the plot, but the premise is so clever it will leave you wondering if there could be any truth in the concept and questioning how much of what you buy is really needed or just purchased because your friends have one...

The Jones family have just moved in to a new neighbourhood, and soon the attractive family members whose high-end consumer lifestyles make them objects of envy are firmly rooted in their new community and having a significant impact on the retail choices of their peers. But despite the picture-perfect lifestyle, below the surface more is going on with the Joneses than you might imagine.

Because, in truth, the family doesn't exist. Instead, the group consists of a team of attractive and charismatic salespeople led by 'mom' Kate (Demi Moore) whose task it is to create sales through suggestion/becoming objects of envy. 'Dad' Steve (David Duchovny) is the new recruit to the company and team... and something of a fly in the ointment. Firstly, because he is genuinely attracted to Kate; secondly because of his newbie status.

Although this film was promoted as a comedy, it really isn't all that comedic. This isn't just because of the multitude of serious messages it incorporates. Encoding the dangers of consumerism and the cynical levels advertisers are capable of going to to attract potential buyers would have been sufficiently powerful a message, coupled with the strain living the pretence places on the real people. Then there were so many other things going on - neighbour Glenne Headley's desperate bids to become a successful cosmetics-saleswoman, and husband Gary Cole's misery; the real state of affairs in regard to 'the children'; Lauren Hutton's sinister 'Big Boss'. There simply isn't time in a roughly 90 minute span to resolve many/any of these satisfactorily. Indeed, the ending feels quite rushed and superficial.

To some extent, thanks to its contemporary setting, this film was always going to be flawed. The present-day setting undermines the message of the film, as you can hardly fly the flag for a credible anti-consumerist message when the studio behind your production has sold product placement. Although many of the items featured were invented/brands not shown, several items were CLEARLY being marketed to the viewing public as well as the Joneses' neighbours, with prominent brand logos e.g. Audi cars and Krups coffee machines. The result is somewhat hypocritical.

Product placement aside, what a pity that the writer/director of this film didn't reign back on the multiple layers of drama a little bit. Too much going on, and not all of it by any means credible. Which is a shame, because the idea of a team of people working as living advertising and struggling to maintain their picture-perfect cover is a genuinely interesting one. I really enjoyed parts of a film that turned out to be surprisingly thought-provoking (a la 'Pleasantville') but was left frustrated by the patchy conclusion.